Expansible finger-ring.



L. M. HIGHAM.

BXPANSIBLE FINGER RING.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.9,1911.

1,079,489, Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

'WITNESSES INVENTOR LIA/0L fl M HIE/114M /6W2MW ATTORNEYS COLUMBIAPLANDGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINDLEY M. HIGHAIVI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

EXPANSIBLE FINGER-RING.

Application filed December 9, 1911.

To (121 whom it may concern Be it known that I, LINDLiLY M. HIGHAM,

a citizen of the United States, and resident l when drawn on and off thefinger, but also because they are adapted to fit fingers which differconsiderably in size. A further advantage of rings of the specified typeis that when they have passed the knuckle they are,

if properly constructed, adapted to have frie- 1 tional engagement withthe flesh of the finger so that there is no tendency for the ring toslip upon the finger and thus bring the stones or other ornan'ientationwith which the head of the ring may be provided on the lower side of thehand where they cannot be seen.

The object of my invention is to provide a ring of the characterspecified which is capable of automatically changing in size as it isput on or off the finger instead of requiring the use of tools or themanipulation of catches.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a ring in which theparts enabling it to be expanded are concealed by or inclosed within thebody of the ring itself so that the ring does not differ in appearancefrom a ring of conventional design and so that, further, said parts areprotected from disarrangement or damage.

My invention resides in the novel features of construction provided andwill be better understood from the drawings accompanying which arehereby made a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are all enlarged views, Figure 1represents a side elevation of a ring embodying a preferred form of myinvention, the full lines indicating the normal condition of the ringwhile the dotted construction represents the ring when partly expanded;Fig. 2 is a central section, part elevation, taken in the plane of thering, that is, along the line 22 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 represents an edgeelevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the hollowhead sections of the shank; Fig. 5 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25 1 913.

Serial No. 664,777.

a perspective view of one of the curved drawbars with its retaining lugremoved; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the base sections ofthe shank.

In the drawings, the ring comprises a head 1, which may be of anyin'ef-erred design, provided with opposite meridian slots in each ofwhich a head section 2 is inserted and pivotally supported at 3 so as tohave a certain amount of play in the plane of the ring about said pivotthe extent of said play being limited by lugs 4 attached to said headsections and embraced by wider transverse slots 5 formed in the head.

Each head section 2 is hollowed out tubularly so as to receive adraw-bar 6 comprising a square sectioned lower link 7 pivoted at 8 to acurved rod 9 at the outer end of which is fixed the retaining lug 10against which rests one end of a preferably slightly compressed, spiralspring 11 the lower end of said spring resting upon an internal shoulder12. The lower end of each link 7 is inserted into the hollow upper endof a base section 13 in which it is pivotally held at 14C and the lowerend of each base section 13 is itself pivoted at 15 to a connectingportion 16 covering about 120 of arc.

Normally the springs 11 tend to hold the ring in the condition shown inFigs. 1 to 3, that is, with the upper end of each base section 13abutting against the lower end. of the compounding head section 2.\Vhen, however, it is attempted to pass the ring over a knuckle largerthan its internal diameter or when it is attempted to fit the ring upona finger larger than the ring, the sections 13 and 2 separate from oneanother to a greater or less extent against the resistance of springs 11which are compressed as the draw-bar 6 is drawn out. At the same timethe sections 13 and 2 nove upon their respective pivots 13 and 15 so asto permit the draw-bars to slide freely in the head sections 2 withoutbinding. The dotted construction, Fig. 1, indicates the condition of thering when it is thus drawn out.

If my improved ring as manufactured is suitably proportioned it will,when in place upon the finger, grip the flesh with gentle pressure andretain its position with stone or other ornamentation uppermost and willnot slip so as to permit said ornamentation to turn inwardly. The gapsbetween the head and base sections need not be great and will, in anycase, be practically invisi ble since they will be substantially coveredby the adjacent fingers. The ring will therefore appear like theconventional ring and that it is not such can only become known on closeinspection.

The relative dimensions and proportions of the various sections andworking parts of my improved ring can be varied to suit individualrequirements and various styles of rings without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. in expansible finger ring comprising a head, oppositely disposedtubular head sections pivotally attached to said head, a pair of basesections each normally abutting against one of said head sections andeach pivotally attached to a connecting section, a draw-bar inclosed andconcealed within each abutting base and head section and attached to oneof said sections, and a spring engaging the other section and thedraw-bar so as to resist separation of the normally abutting sections.

2. An expansible finger ring comprising a head, oppositely disposedhollow head sections attached to said head so as to have play in theplane of the ring with respect thereto and provided with lug and slot,means to limit the extent of said play, a pair of base sections normallyabutting against said head sections and pivotally attached to aconnecting section, a draw-bar attached to each base section extendinginto each hollow head section, and a spring surrounding said draw-barengaged with one end of said draw-bar and with an internal shoulderwhereby separation of the normally abutting sections is resisted.

3. An expansible finger ring comprising a head, a pair of sections oneach side of said head to one only of which a draw-bar is attached, saiddraw-bar extending into the other section, each pair being pivotallyjoined at one end to said head so as to have play in the plane of thering and at the other end pivotally joined to a connecting piece, and aspring engaged with said drawbar and with the section to which saiddrawbar is not attached.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LINDLEY M. HIGHAM. IVitnesses E. H. Henson, CHARLES F. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

